Lens Poly Offa Stages 'No- To-Kidnapping, No-To-Hunger' Campaign, Urges Govt., Stakeholders To Address Issues



The Mass Communication Students of Lens Polytechnic Offa Kwara State have embarked on a No-to-Kidnapping, No-to-Hunger campaign to place a clarion call on the government and other critical stakeholders in the country.

The campaign held on Saturday 9th, March 2024 was widely embraced and acknowledged as one with the right message addressing the current situation in the country.

The Proprietor, Dr. Azeez Yisa in his address said the campaign's aim is not to condemn the government policy or program but a clarion call on government at all levels on the urgent need to cushion the effect of the current economic crisis.

According to him, 'The Federal Government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is trying, and this campaign is not to condemn the government. For record purposes, this is not the first time the institution will embark on a campaign to address issues of national interest. The campaign is part of the curriculum, and it is a clarion call on the need to intensify efforts to tame the current economic situation."

Also speaking, the Registrar of the Polytechnic, Mr. Hammed Sarafa Olalekan said the Polytechnic is one of the leading institutions in Nigeria known for the series of campaigns to foster unity and national integration.

He said the Polytechnic deems it fit to critically look into the current issue of public interest and call on government at all levels for a lasting solution.

Speaking to the press, the Head of Department of Mass Communication, Mrs. Kehinde Adeniran said the campaign is considered to address pressing issues affecting the masses. She noted that people at the helm of affairs need to act fast to curtail the series of challenges facing the country. Mrs. Kehinde said it is part of the aims and objectives of the campaign to draw the attention of the stakeholders to the opinions of the people at the grassroots, which are predominantly on hardship and insecurity.

While the campaign coordinator, Mr. Adebayo Lukman Alani commended the management for providing maximum support to achieve a successful campaign planning and execution. He clarified explicitly that the campaign is not a protest or demonstration, but a purely academic exercise embedded in the National Board for Technical Education's Curriculum.

According to him, "On behalf of the HOD of Mass Communication, I appreciate the management for providing the necessary logistics for the success of this campaign. For emphasis, this is neither a protest nor a demonstration but a legitimate academic exercise. It is part of the curriculum, and this is not the first time. The campaign is addressed to all stakeholders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, opinion leaders, market men and women, corporate organizations, and most importantly, the government to work together for holistic solutions to the prevalent challenges facing the country. Nigerians deserve better, and better Nigeria is achievable.”